Chess Puzzle #F3fZz — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishops a3/d3; knight g5; pawns a2/c3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh7 (knight f6→h7, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Qxh7# — queen c2→h7, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

kingside attack, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, short. The combination ends with Qxh7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: rnbqr1k1/p1p2ppp/1p3n2/3p2N1/3P4/B1PBP3/P1Q2PPP/R4RK1 b - - 3 12

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.